Keys to Victory: Three reasons Frank Mir will defeat Daniel Cormier
Posted on July 27, 2012, 07:54 AM by Anton GurevichIn three months, former UFC Heavyweight champion Frank Mir will make his spiritual journey to Strikeforce, for a fight with Heavyweight GP Winner Daniel Cormier.
In his last bout, Mir was TKO’d by Junior dos Santos in fight for the UFC Heavyweight title. Mir’s encounter with JDS showcased everything most of us knew already – Frank Mir is without a TOP 5 Heavyweight, but he lacks the tools to go toe-to-toe with fighters like JDS, Overeem, and perhaps Cain Velasquez.
But is this really the case? As one of the biggest Frank Mir fans, I would prefer to say ‘no’. Some may call it ‘wishful thinking’, but I truly believe that Mir has what it takes to prove his worth, and shut up the critics against Daniel Cormier.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu
Frank Mir could well-be one of the greatest heavyweight grapplers in MMA history. His bone-breaking performances against Tim Sylvia and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira made him the legendary fighter he is today. The way Frank Mir submitted Big Nog and Brock Lesnar is a perfect example of how his submission skills can turn the fight around in any given moment. Daniel Cormier is relatively “green” when it comes to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and should think twice before taking risks against Mir.
Why not?
Daniel Cormier is one of the best wrestlers in MMA today, while Frank Mir’s wrestling is lackluster (to say the least). Cormier knows how to stay on top, neutralizing his opponent’s offensive grappling. Josh Barnett is a submission artist himself, but he was unable to put Cormier in any type of danger on the ground.
Experience
Frank Mir is no stranger to danger. In fact, the level of competition Frank Mir faced inside the Octagon could rival the one of Cain Velasquez, who will face Junior dos Santos later this year. While Frank Mir is a battle-tested war machine, Daniel Cormier is still at the start of his Mixed Martial Arts career. Big Nog made a huge mistake in heat of the moment, which cost him the fight. Daniel Cormier’s decision-making process is still in development, and that’s exactly where Frank Mir could find a chink in his opponent’s armor.
Why not?
Jeff Monson, Antonio Silva, Barnett, and even Devin Cole, all were more experienced than Daniel Cormier. Having 70 fights on your record could be an advantage in certain situations, but when it comes to unpredictability and unorthodox approach to the game – the veterans are simply unable to keep up with the pace. DC will bring a lot of new tools to the table against Frank Mir, just like he did against Monson and Josh Barnett.
Physical Strength
Frank Mir is incredibly strong a fighter. At 265lbs, Mir will be tough to take down and bully at the fence. More than anything, Frank Mir’s physical advantage over Daniel Cormier could help him to execute submission maneuvers. I think Daniel Cormier is an advanced version of Roy Nelson., who struggled to find his riddum against Frank Mir. The ability to fight into dominant positions will play a huge role in this match-up, physical strength is the key, and Frank Mir has 265lbs of it.
Why not?
Daniel Cormier may not be a Mr. Olympia candidate, but he’s definitely a powerhouse. Cormier is built like a tank, and can go toe-to-toe with the Overeems and Mirs of the UFC Heavyweight division. Behind all the sarcasm about his physique, Daniel Cormier’s improved striking skills and top-tier wrestling make him faster and stronger than anyone he faced in Strikeforce. Junior dos Santos’ speed and timing proved to be too much for Frank Mir, while same qualities helped Daniel Cormier to win the Strikeforce Heavyweight GP.
Comments
This is going to be a great fight, but I think Frank will take this fight
I see NO way for Frank to take this fight. I've been saying for a little while now watching the improvement in each fight for cormier that he's the only person that makes me nervous against my favorite HW of all time. JUNIOR CIGANOOOOO DOS SANTOSSSSSS. his wrestling base makes him a threat against anyone, his standup improves every fight and is better then alot of HW's already. he's deceivingly fast for a chubby guy and has a better gas tank then you'd expect also. he beats Mir in every aspect of MMA except Jits and considering the only way it hits the ground is when Mir falls it won't help. Cormier will outstrike Mir, not like JDS but it will also end in K.O
sorry guys a little off topic but the wall was moving slow and I wanted some opinions on it, does seeing Mir go to Strikeforce mean we'll possibly see some guys go fight Melendez? the UFC LW division has been on hold for quite some time with alot of contenders clearing others out, but it doesn't change that there is LOTS of talent at LW, I'd love to see some UFC LW's challenge Melendez who I have as the number 3 or 4 LW in the world
@Silva I would say almost certainly not.
The winner of the Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix was bound by contract to have one more fight in Strikeforce, after the Grand Prix, before joining the UFC with the rest of the Strikeforce HWs. There was no one left in Strikeforce HW to fight Cormier and there was no HW credible enough outside Zuffa, so they brought in a top guy from UFC just for this one fight then they'll both go back to the UFC.
Strikeforce LW and the other weight classes except HW have full divisions (take that with a pinch of salt) and a couple of so called challengers, therefore I highly doubt they will bring over a UFC fighter to contend for the other belts.
i used to love frank but ever since he put on the weight he has sucked. He has been gassing often, his chin has become questionable and his stand up went to shit. and i think DC has a clear physical strength edge since he lifted up and slammed a massive josh barnett..doubt mir could do that
I don't think it's anything to do with putting on weight I just honestly feel his chin, which was never good, has become the button waiting to get pushed.
I have thought this also but to be fair to Mir he has been hit by some dynamite strikers. I think perhqaps it is his movement that is suspect rather thaqn his chin and he just gets caught flush too many times which against some of the hitters he's faced gets him rocked and sometimes stopped.
if that is the case...He better start moving differently because DC is freaking accurate when he punches. With that being saud I find it hard to believe Mir is right now working on his foot work....
kind of agree, brock ruined him!
after he got outmuscled by brock he worked on his strength big time and seems to of lost his mobility, speed and cardio a bit.
instead of gaining more muscle mass he should of learnt not to throw a knee when your opponent has hold of your other leg!!!
Whoever has been "weak" you are a bunch of idiots who dont know shit. Frank has been looking soft which explains him gasing which he has been doing for his last couple of fights. "JJ" is his only strength against DC, but he needs to get to the ground to do that. I dont understand who in the hell said "Experience" was a factor since probably everyone DC has beat had experience on him. THere is NO way in Hell Mir is physically stronger than DC. DC is a beast and the was he manhandled Barnett and Big Foot, there is no room to talk in that area. DC is clearly going to beat the living crap out of Mir....put your money where your mouth is Mir fans....
I like Frank...but frankly I think he will be KO again before having a chance to showcase any BJJ skills against the "green" Dan.
This fiht will be like Mir vs Carwin wrestler with punching power.Mir gona get payed for geting beat up
Sort of similar but Carwin is definitely a stronger puncher than Cormier but I would give DC the hand speed advantage
For all the reasons Frank may win the only thing that counts in his fights anymore is the one reason he will lose - glass chin
I really grew to like Frank...he gave me the most heart breaking moment in my MMA watching life but he did what he had to and found a way to win....he is great and would be awesome to see a legend come out on top once again.
lowkick is franks mir number 1 fan in the whole world. i remember anton saying mir was going to defeat JDS! with cormier IMO he is the underdog but he has some chances... but to put the post like "3 reasons why mir will defeat cormier" seems like its made by a fan and doesnt look like a serious post.
you should include the non existent chin of mir and the fact that cormier seems to punch really hard will make really probable that mir goes to sleep again....
why not??
and the comparisson between cormier and nelson isnt good. nelson doesnt have DC wrestling and he is way slower and gasses out (like he did against mir). i like better the comparisson between mir and barnet.
no doubt mir has his chances but i wont be as confident as you usually are! it isnt working anton!!
The article it implies Mir will have a physical advantage, the only thing I see being in his favour is reach and perhaps one shot power.
DC is definitely faster and the he manhandled Barnett and Bigfoot makes me think he will have a strength advantage.
The only advantages I see going in favour of MIr is a big one in submission grappling, experience and size.
The thing is Barnett and Bigfoot also enjoyed those advantages but still came up short big time.
The thing is, all of these "advantages" that Mir has over Cormier (Submission, Size, Strength, Experience) are the same advantages that Josh Barnett (Who is much more experienced than Mir) and Bigfoot had over Cormier, and look what happened. I see Cormier blasting Mir with punches like he did Barnett, and as we have seen from Mir, he doesn't take punches/shots in the face to well, as seen in the fights with JDS, Carwin, and even the Big Nog fight
If Mir is smart he will clinch up and pull guard, thus taking cormier out of his comfort zone. This however could go badly if he passes Mir's guard. Otherwise I do not see a way Mir can win and people are saying Mir has the strength advantage? Cormier is an Olympic wrestler they have incredible explosive and dynamic strength something Mir does not have.
Three keys to victory:
Brazilian Jui Jitsu
While Mir has the advantage here--BJJ has proven to be fairly toothless without good take downs and against wrestlers trained in submission defense. It is a lot easier for a wrestler to learn BJJ defense than a BJJ artist to learn wrestling.
DC is an olympic calibre wrestler and you can be sure he trains BJJ in his camp--especially sub defense. Barnett tried a few tricky subs on DC in their fight, including a leg lock, to no avail. Why is it pure BJJ guys don't dominate MMA anymore? Today's fighters have BJJ sub defense, at least, and often offensive games too.
Experience
If Frank Mir's experience is getting his face smashed in--is that really useful in helping him overcome DC? We are not talking about a few close decision losses or a single KO. JDS, Shane Carwin and Brock Lesnar made lunch meat out of Mir's face. Also Mir has the distinction of being TKO'd by Brandon 'the Fiction' Vera.
The only thing experience in getting your face smashed does is make you gunshy and uncertain of your weight, your style, your gameplan--everything--unless you are delusional.
Strength
Wrestlers have the greatest functional strength of almost any athletes on the planet. Wrestlers contstantly train, strain, push, and pull against other wrestlers. Wreslting is technique + strength + cardio.
The facile and simplistic assumption that Mir is stronger than Cormier due to his size does not hold water in practice. Often I have been at the gym and lifting substantially more weight than 'Mr. Olympic' musclemen who could not even scratch their nose.
My bet is that Cormier is far stronger than Mir--whose only 'advantage' will be sheer mass, not strength. This will slow him down and make him more vulnerable to DC's striking and changing levels.
Conclusion
Frank Mir could win this bout with DC, he is indeed a high quality opponent for DC and a good test, however, I still put Mir as the underdog in this fight.
Nice break down codemaster. You are correct, size and strength are two totally different things. If you keep your reps between 3 and 6 with the most wt you can handle for that range you will add tons of strength and very little size while if you do the same for 6-12 reps ( I use 8-10 in my hypertrophy cycles) you will add mostly size and little strength. So by periodizing the right way you can stay relatively unimposing and have ridiculous strength. I have clients with 20+ lbs of muscle over me that can't lift the wts I use.
I clicked ”Cool” because your comment was so long and you used the word ”facile.”
I think Lesnar vs Mir 2 gives a good insight of how this fight will go.
Only if Frank can over power him. This isnt a good match up for Mir. Mir's Achilles heel is strikers.